African Nature Proverbs

Proverbs and Their Relevance

Proverbs, and their everyday usage, are just as relevant to contemporary society as a reflection of the human condition as they were to our ancestors.

Environmental Themes in Proverbs

Set against the struggle to save our planet and issues of environmentalism, proverbs with imagery originating from the natural world will resonate with most of us.

Collection and Interpretation

Dianne Stewart has compiled this treasure trove of African nature proverbs sourced from isiZulu and isiXhosa, and has provided both literal translations and their figurative interpretations.